Letters of Horace Walpole by Horace Walpole

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[Footnote 1: "_A new one appointed._" This is a mistake of Walpole's. Anew Parliament was not, nor indeed could be, appointed; but Maupeoucreated six new Sovereign Courts at Arras, Blois, Chalons sur Marne,Clermont, Lyon, and Poitiers, at which "justice should be done at thesovereign's expense" (Lacretelle, iv. 264).]

In the mean time our most serious war is between two Operas. Mr. Hobart,Lord Buckingham's brother, is manager of the Haymarket. Last year heaffronted Guadagni, by preferring the Zamperina, his own mistress, tothe singing hero's sister. The Duchess of Northumberland, LadyHarrington, and some other great ladies, espoused the brother, andwithout a license erected an Opera for him at Madame Cornelys's. This isa singular dame, and you must be acquainted with her. She sung hereformerly, by the name of the Pompeiati. Of late years she has been theHeidegger of the age, and presided over our diversions. Her taste andinvention in pleasures and decorations are singular. She took CarlisleHouse in Soho Square, enlarged it, and established assemblies and ballsby subscription. At first they scandalised, but soon drew in bothrighteous and ungodly. She went on building, and made her house a fairypalace for balls, concerts, and masquerades. Her Opera, which she called_Harmonic Meetings_, was splendid and charming. Mr. Hobart began tostarve, and the managers of the theatres were alarmed. To avoid the act,she pretended to take no money, and had the assurance to advertise thatthe subscription was to provide coals for the poor, for she hasvehemently courted the mob, and succeeded in gaining their princelyfavour. She then declared her Masquerades were for the benefit ofcommerce. I concluded she would open another sort of house next for theinterests of the Foundling Hospital, and I was not quite mistaken, forthey say one of her maids, gained by Mr. Hobart, affirms that she couldnot undergo the fatigue of managing such a house. At last Mr. Hobartinformed against her, and the Bench of Justices, less soothable by musicthan Orpheus's beasts, have pronounced against her. Her Opera isquashed, and Guadagni, who governed so haughtily at Vienna, that, topique some man of quality there, he named a minister to Venice, is notonly fined, but was threatened to be sent to Bridewell, which chilledthe blood of all the Caesars and Alexanders he had ever represented; norcould any promises of his lady-patronesses rehabilitate his courage--sofor once an Act of Parliament goes for something.

You have got three new companions;[1] General Montagu, a West IndianMr. Paine, and Mr. Lynch, your brother at Turin.

[Footnote 1: As Knights of the Bath.--WALPOLE.]

There is the devil to pay in Denmark. The Queen[1] has got theascendant, has turned out favourites and Ministers, and literally wearsthe breeches, actual buckskin. There is a physician, who is said to ruleboth their Majesties, and I suppose is sold to France, for that is thepredominant interest now at Copenhagen. The Czarina has whispered herdisapprobation, and if she has a talon left, when she has done with theOttomans, may chance to scratch the little King.

[Footnote 1: The Queen was Caroline Matilda, a sister of George III.,and was accused of a criminal intimacy with Count Struenzee, the PrimeMinister. Struenzee, "after a trial with only a slight semblance of theforms of justice" (to quote the words of Lord Stanhope), was convictedand executed; and the Queen was at first imprisoned in the Castle ofCronenburg, but after a time was released, and allowed to retire toZell, Hanover, where she died in 1774.]

For eight months to come I should think we shall have little to talk of,you and I, but distant wars and distant majesties. For my part, I reckonthe volume quite shut in which I took any interest. The succeeding worldis young, new, and half unknown to me. Tranquillity comprehends everywish I have left, and I think I should not even ask what news there is,but for fear of seeming wedded to old stories--the rock of old men; andyet I should prefer that failing to the solicitude about a world onebelongs to no more! Adieu!

_QUARREL OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS WITH THE CITY--DISSENSIONS IN THEFRENCH COURT AND ROYAL FAMILY--EXTRAVAGANCE IN ENGLAND._

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

ARLINGTON STREET, _April_ 26, 1771.

You may wonder that I have been so silent, when I had announced a warbetween the House of Commons and the City--nay, when hostilities wereactually commenced; but many a campaign languishes that has set out veryflippantly. My letters depend on events, and I am like the man in theweather-house who only comes forth on a storm. The wards in the Cityhave complimented the prisoners,[1] and some towns; but the train hasnot spread much. Wilkes is your only gun-powder that makes an explosion.He and his associates are more incensed at each other than against theMinistry, and have saved the latter much trouble. The Select Committeeshave been silent and were forgotten, but there is a talk now of theirmaking some report before the session closes.

[Footnote 1: The prisoners were Crosby, the Lord Mayor, and Oliver, oneof the aldermen, both members of Parliament. The selection of the Towerfor their imprisonment was greatly remarked upon, because hitherto thathad never been so used except for persons accused of high treason; whiletheir offence was but a denial of the right of the House of Commons toarrest a liveryman within the City, and the entertaining a charge ofassault against the messenger who had endeavoured to arrest him. Theseriots, which for the moment appeared likely to become formidable, aroseout of the practice of reporting the parliamentary debates, a practicecontrary to the Standing Orders of Parliament, passed as far back as thereign of Elizabeth, but the violation of which had lately begun to beattempted.]

The serious war is at last absolutely blown over. Spain has sent us wordshe is disarming. So are we. Who would have expected that a courtesan atParis would have prevented a general conflagration? Madame du Barri hascompensated for Madame Helen, and is _optima pacis causa_. I will notswear that the torch she snatched from the hands of Spain may not lightup a civil war in France. The Princes of the Blood[1] are forbidden theCourt, twelve dukes and peers, of the most complaisant, are banished, orgoing to be banished; and even the captains of the guard. In short, theKing, his mistress, and the Chancellor, have almost left themselvesalone at Versailles. But as the most serious events in France havealways a ray of ridicule mixed with them, some are to be exiled _to_Paris, and some to St. Germain. How we should laugh at anybody beingbanished to Soho Square and Hammersmith? The Chancellor desired to seethe Prince of Conti; the latter replied, "Qu'il lui donnoit rendezvous ala Greve."[2]

[Footnote 1: The "Princes of the Blood" in France were those who, thoughof Royal descent, were not children of a king--such, for instance, asthe Dukes of Orleans and Bourbon; and they were reckoned of a rank soinferior to the princes of the Royal Family, that, as Marie Antoinetteon one occasion told the Duke of Orleans, in a well-deserved reproof forhis factious insolence, Princes of the Blood had never pretended to thehonour of supping with the King and herself. (See the Editor's "Life ofMarie Antoinette," c. 10). Their offence, in this instance, was havingprotested against the holding and the proceedings of a _Lit de Justice_,which had been held on April 15th, about three months after thebanishment of all the members of Parliament (Lacretelle, c. 13).]

[Footnote 2: La Greve was the place of execution in Paris.

Who has e'er been at Paris must needs know the Greve, The fatal retreat of th' unfortunate brave; Where honour and justice most oddly contribute To ease hero's pains by a halter and gibbet (PRIOR).]

If we laugh at the French, they stare at us. Our enormous luxury andexpense astonishes them. I carried their Ambassador, and a Comte deLevi, the other morning to see the new winter Ranelagh [The Pantheon] inOxford Road, which is almost finished. It amazed me myself. ImagineBalbec in all its glory! The pillars are of artificial _giallo antico_.The ceilings, even of the passages, are of the most beautiful stuccos inthe best taste of grotesque. The ceilings of the ball-rooms and thepanels painted like Raphael's _loggias_ in the Vatican. A dome like thepantheon, glazed. It is to cost fifty thousand pounds. Monsieur deGuisnes said to me, "Ce n'est qu'a Londres qu'on peut faire tout cela."It is not quite a proof of the same taste, that two views of Verona, byCanaletti, have been sold by auction for five hundred and fifty guineas;and, what is worse, it is come out that they are copies by Marlow, adisciple of Scott. Both master and scholar are indeed better paintersthan the Venetian; but the purchasers did not mean to be so wellcheated.

The papers will have told you that the wheel of fortune has againbrought up Lord Holdernesse, who is made governor to the Prince ofWales. The Duchess of Queensberry, a much older veteran, is stillfiguring in the world, not only by giving frequent balls, but really byher beauty. Reflect, that she was a goddess in Prior's days![1] I couldnot help adding these lines on her--you know his end:

Kitty, at Heart's desire, Obtained the chariot for a day, And set the world on fire.

This was some fifty-six years ago, or more. I gave her this stanza:

To many a Kitty, Love his car Will for a day engage, But Prior's Kitty, ever fair, Obtained it for an age!

And she is old enough to be pleased with the compliment.

[Footnote 1: Prior died in 1721.]

My brother [Sir Edward Walpole] has lost his son; and it is nomisfortune, though he was but three-and-thirty, and had very good parts;for he was sunk into such a habit of drinking and gaming, that the firstruined his constitution, and the latter would have ruined his father.

Shall I send away this short scroll, or reserve it to the end of thesession? No, it is already somewhat obsolete: it shall go, and anothershort letter shall be the other half of it--so, good night!

_GREAT DISTRESS AT THE FRENCH COURT._

TO THE HON. H.S. CONWAY.

PARIS, _July_ 30, 1771.

I do not know where you are, nor where this will find you, nor when itwill set out to seek you, as I am not certain by whom I shall send it.It is of little consequence, as I have nothing material to tell you, butwhat you probably may have heard.

The distress here is incredible, especially at Court. The King'stradesmen are ruined, his servants starving, and even angels andarchangels cannot get their pensions and salaries, but sing "Woe! woe!woe!" instead of Hosannahs. Compiegne is abandoned; Villars Coterets[1]and Chantilly crowded, and Chanteloup still more in fashion, whithereverybody goes that pleases; though, when they ask leave, the answer is,"Je ne le defends ni le permets." This is the first time that ever thewill of a King of France was interpreted against his inclination. Yet,after annihilating his Parliament, and ruining public credit, he tamelysubmits to be affronted by his own servants. Madame de Beauveau, and twoor three high-spirited dames, defy this Czar of Gaul. Yet they and theircabal are as inconsistent on the other hand. They make epigrams, singvaudevilles,[2] against the mistress, hand about libels against theChancellor [Maupeou], and have no more effect than a sky-rocket; but inthree months will die to go to Court, and to be invited to sup withMadame du Barri. The only real struggle is between the Chancellor[Maupeou] and the Duc d'Aiguillon. The first is false, bold, determined,and not subject to little qualms. The other is less known, communicateshimself to nobody, is suspected of deep policy and deep designs, butseems to intend to set out under a mask of very smooth varnish; for hehas just obtained the payment of all his bitter enemy La Chalotais'pensions and arrears. He has the advantage, too, of being butmoderately detested in comparison of his rival, and, what he valuesmore, the interest of the mistress. The Comptroller-General[3] servesboth, by acting mischief more sensibly felt; for he ruins everybody butthose who purchase a respite from his mistress. He dispenses bankruptcyby retail, and will fall, because he cannot even by these means beuseful enough. They are striking off nine millions from _la caissemilitaire_, five from the marine, and one from the _affairesetrangeres_: yet all this will not extricate them. You never saw a greatnation in so disgraceful a position. Their next prospect is not better:it rests on an _imbecille_ [Louis XVI.], both in mind and body.

[Footnote 1: Villars Coterets was the country residence of the Ducd'Orleans; Chantilly that of the Prince de Conde; and Chanteloup that ofthe Duc de Choiseul: and the mere fact of their being in disgrace atCourt was sufficient to make them popular with the people.]

[Footnote 2: The following specimen of these vaudevilles was given byMadame du Deffand to Walpole:--

[Footnote 3: The Comptroller-General was the Abbe Terrai, notoriously ascorrupt as he was incompetent. One of his measures, reducing theinterest on the Debt by one-half, was tantamount to an act ofbankruptcy; but the national levity comforted itself by jests, and oneevening, when the pit at the theatre was crowded to suffocation, one ofthe sufferers carried the company with him by shouting out a suggestionto send for the Abbe Terrai to reduce them all to one-half their size.]

_ENGLISH GARDENING IN FRANCE--ANGLOMANIE--HE IS WEARY OF PARIS--DEATH OFGRAY._

TO JOHN CHUTE, ESQ.

Paris, _August_ 5, 1771.

It is a great satisfaction to me to find by your letter of the 30th,that you have had no return of your gout. I have been assured here, thatthe best remedy is to cut one's nails in hot water. It is, I fear, ascertain as any other remedy! It would at least be so here, if theirbodies were of a piece with their understandings; or if both were ascurable as they are the contrary. Your prophecy, I doubt, is not betterfounded than the prescription. I may be lame; but I shall never be aduck, nor deal in the garbage of the Alley.

I envy your _Strawberry tide_, and need not say how much I wish I wasthere to receive you. Methinks, I should be as glad of a little grass,as a seaman after a long voyage. Yet English gardening gains ground hereprodigiously--not much at a time, indeed--I have literally seen one,that is exactly like a tailor's paper of patterns. There is a MonsieurBoutin, who has tacked a piece of what he calls an English garden to aset of stone terraces, with steps of turf. There are three or four veryhigh hills, almost as high as, and exactly in the shape of, a tansypudding. You squeeze between these and a river, that is conducted atobtuse angles in a stone channel, and supplied by a pump; and whenwalnuts come in I suppose it will be navigable. In a corner enclosed bya chalk wall are the samples I mentioned; there is a strip of grass,another of corn, and a third _en friche_, exactly in the order of bedsin a nursery. They have translated Mr. Whately's book,[1] and the Lordknows what barbarism is going to be laid at our door. This new_Anglomanie_ will literally be _mad English_.

[Footnote 1: Mr. Whately, the Secretary to the Treasury, had publishedan essay on Gardening.]

New _arrets_, new retrenchments, new misery, stalk forth every day. TheParliament of Besancon is dissolved; so are the _grenadiers de France_.The King's tradesmen are all bankrupt; no pensions are paid, andeverybody is reforming their suppers and equipages. Despotism makesconverts faster than ever Christianity did. Louis _Quinze_ is the true_rex Christianissimus_, and has ten times more success than hisdragooning great-grandfather. Adieu, my dear Sir! Yours most faithfully.

_Friday 9th._

... It is very singular that I have not half the satisfaction in goinginto churches and convents that I used to have. The consciousness thatthe vision is dispelled, the want of fervour so obvious in thereligious, the solitude that one knows proceeds from contempt, not fromcontemplation, make those places appear like abandoned theatres destinedto destruction. The monks trot about as if they had not long to staythere; and what used to be holy gloom is now but dirt and darkness.There is no more deception than in a tragedy acted by candle-snuffers.One is sorry to think that an empire of common sense would not be verypicturesque; for, as there is nothing but taste that can compensate forthe imagination of madness, I doubt there will never be twenty men oftaste for twenty thousand madmen. The world will no more see Athens,Rome, and the Medici again, than a succession of five good emperors,like Nerva, Trajan, Adrian, and the two Antonines.

_August_ 13.

Mr. Edmonson has called on me; and, as he sets out to-morrow, I cansafely trust my letter to him. I have, I own, been much shocked atreading Gray's[1] death in the papers. 'Tis an hour that makes oneforget any subject of complaint, especially towards one with whom Ilived in friendship from thirteen years old. As self lies so rooted inself, no doubt the nearness of our ages made the stroke recoil to my ownbreast; and having so little expected his death, it is plain how littleI expect my own. Yet to you, who of all men living are the mostforgiving, I need not excuse the concern I feel. I fear most men oughtto apologise for their want of feeling, instead of palliating thatsensation when they have it. I thought that what I had seen of the worldhad hardened my heart; but I find that it had formed my language, notextinguished my tenderness. In short, I am really shocked--nay, I amhurt at my own weakness, as I perceive that when I love anybody, it isfor my life; and I have had too much reason not to wish that such adisposition may very seldom be put to the trial. You, at least, are theonly person to whom I would venture to make such a confession.

[Footnote 1: Gray died of gout in the stomach on July 30th. He was onlyfifty-five.]

Adieu! my dear Sir! Let me know when I arrive, which will be about thelast day of the month, when I am likely to see you. I have much to sayto you. Of being here I am most heartily tired, and nothing but thisdear old woman should keep me here an hour--I am weary of them todeath--but that is not new! Yours ever.

_SCANTINESS OF THE RELICS OF GRAY--GARRICK'S PROLOGUES, ETC.--WILKES'SSQUINT._

TO THE REV. WILLIAM COLE

ARLINGTON STREET, _Jan._ 28, 1772.

It is long indeed, dear Sir, since we corresponded. I should not havebeen silent if I had anything worth telling you in your way; but I growsuch an antiquity myself, that I think I am less fond of what remains ofour predecessors.

I thank you for Bannerman's proposal; I mean, for taking the trouble tosend it, for I am not at all disposed to subscribe. I thank you more forthe note on King Edward; I mean, too, for your friendship in thinking ofme. Of Dean Milles I cannot trouble myself to think any more. His pieceis at Strawberry: perhaps I may look at it for the sake of your note.The bad weather keeps me in town, and a good deal at home; which I findvery comfortable, literally practising what so many persons pretend theyintend, being quiet and enjoying my fire-side in my elderly days.

Mr. Mason has shown me the relics of poor Mr. Gray. I am sadlydisappointed at finding them so very inconsiderable. He alwayspersisted, when I inquired about his writings, that he had nothing byhim. I own I doubted. I am grieved he was so very near exact--I speakof my own satisfaction; as to his genius, what he published during hislife will establish his fame as long as our language lasts, and there isa man of genius left. There is a silly fellow, I don't know who, thathas published a volume of Letters on the English Nation, with charactersof our modern authors. He has talked such nonsense on Mr. Gray, that Ihave no patience with the compliments he has paid me. He must have anexcellent taste! and gives me a woful opinion of my own trifles, when helikes them, and cannot see the beauties of a poet that ought to beranked in the first line.

I am more humbled by any applause in the present age, than by hosts ofsuch critics as Dean Milles. Is not Garrick reckoned a tolerable actor?His Cymon, his prologues and epilogues, and forty such pieces of trash,are below mediocrity, and yet delight the mob in the boxes as well as inthe footman's gallery. I do not mention the things written in hispraise; because he writes most of them himself. But you know any onepopular merit can confer all merit. Two women talking of Wilkes, onesaid he squinted--t'other replied, "Squints!--well, if he does, it isnot more than a man should squint." For my part, I can see how extremelywell Garrick acts, without thinking him six feet high.[1]

[Footnote 1: He is quoting Churchill's "Rosciad"--

When the pure genuine flame, by nature taught, Springs into sense, and every action's thought; Before such merit all objections fly, Pritchard's genteel, and Garrick six feet high--

the great actor being a short man.]

It is said Shakespeare was a bad actor; why do not his divine plays makeour wise judges conclude that he was a good one? They have not a proofof the contrary, as they have in Garrick's works--but what is it to youor me what he is? We may see him act with pleasure, and nothing obligesus to read his writings.

_MARRIAGE OF THE PRETENDER--THE PRINCESS LOUISE, AND HER PROTECTION OFTHE CLERGY--FOX'S ELOQUENCE._

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

ARLINGTON STREET, _April_ 9, 1772.

It is uncommon for _me_ to send _you_ news of the Pretender. He has beenmarried in Paris by proxy, to a Princess of Stolberg. All that I canlearn of her is, that she is niece to a Princess of Salm, whom I knewthere, without knowing any more of her. The new Pretendress is said tobe but sixteen, and a Lutheran: I doubt the latter; if the former istrue, I suppose they mean to carry on the breed in the way it began, bya spurious child. A Fitz-Pretender is an excellent continuation of thepatriarchal line. Mr. Chute says, when the Royal Family are preventedfrom marrying,[1] it is a right time for the Stuarts to marry. Thisevent seems to explain the Pretender's disappearance last autumn; andthough they sent him back from Paris, they may not dislike thepropagation of thorns in our side.

[Footnote 1: In a previous letter Walpole mentions the enactment of theRoyal Marriage Act by a very narrow majority, after more than oneviolent debate. It had been insisted on by the King, who was highlyindignant at his brothers, the Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland,having married two subjects. Singularly enough they were both widows,Lady Waldegrave and Mrs. Horton. And this Act made the consent of thesovereign indispensable to the marriage of any member of the RoyalFamily except the descendants of princesses married to foreign princes.]

I hear the credit of the French Chancellor declines. He had stronglytaken up the clergy; and Soeur Louise,[1] the King's Carmelite daughter,was the knot of the intrigue. The new Parliament has dared toremonstrate against a declaration obtained by the Chancellor for settingaside an _arret_ of 1762, occasioned by the excommunication of Parma.The Spanish and Neapolitan Ministers interposed, and pronounced thedeclaration an infringement of the family compact: the _arret_ of 1762has been confirmed to satisfy them, and the Pope's authority, andeverything that comes from Rome, except what regards _the Penitential_,(I do not know what that means,) restrained. This is supported byd'Aiguillon and all the other Ministers, who are labouring thereconciliation of the Princes of the Blood, that the Chancellor may nothave the honour of reconciling them. Perhaps the Princess of Stolbergsprung out of my Sister Louise's cell. The King has demanded twelvemillions of the clergy: they consent to give ten. We shall see whetherMadame Louise, on her knees, or Madame du Barri will fight the betterfight. I should think the King's knees were more of an age for praying,than for fighting.

[Footnote 1: The Soeur Louise was the youngest daughter of Louis XV.;and, very different from her sisters, who were ill-tempered, politicalintriguers. She, on the contrary, was deeply religious, and had, someyears before, taken the vows of the Carmelite order; and had fixed herresidence at the Convent of St. Denis, where she was more than oncevisited by Marie Antoinette.]

The House of Commons is embarked on the ocean of Indian affairs, andwill probably make a long session. I went thither the other day to hearCharles Fox, contrary to a resolution I had made of never setting myfoot there again. It is strange how disuse makes one awkward: I felt apalpitation, as if I were going to speak there myself. The objectanswered: Fox's abilities are amazing at so very early a period,especially under the circumstances of such a dissolute life. He was justarrived from Newmarket, had sat up drinking all night, and had not beenin bed. How such talents make one laugh at Tully's rules for an orator,and his indefatigable application. His laboured orations are puerile incomparison with this boy's manly reason. We beat Rome in eloquence andextravagance; and Spain in avarice and cruelty; and, like both, we shallonly serve to terrify schoolboys, and for lessons of morality! "Herestood St. Stephen's Chapel; here young Catiline spoke; here was LordClive's diamond-house; this is Leadenhall Street, and this broken columnwas part of the palace of a company of merchants[1] who were sovereignsof Bengal! They starved millions in India by monopolies and plunder, andalmost raised a famine at home by the luxury occasioned by theiropulence, and by that opulence raising the price of everything, tillthe poor could not purchase bread!" Conquest, usurpation, wealth,luxury, famine--one knows how little farther the genealogy has to go. Ifyou like it better in Scripture phrase, here it is: Lord Chatham begotthe East India Company; the East India Company begot Lord Clive; LordClive begot the Maccaronis, and they begot poverty; all the race arestill living; just as Clodius was born before the death of JuliusCaesar. There is nothing more like than two ages that are very like;which is all that Rousseau means by saying, "give him an account of anygreat metropolis, and he will foretell its fate." Adieu!

[Footnote 1: "_A company of merchants._" "A mighty prince helddomination over India; his name was Koompanee Jehan. Although thismonarch had innumerable magnificent palaces at Delhi and Agra, atBenares, Boggleywallah, and Ahmednuggar, his common residence was in thebeautiful island of Ingleez, in the midst of the capital of which, thefamous city of Lundoon, Koompanee Jehan had a superb castle. It wascalled the Hall of Lead, and stood at the foot of the mountain of Corn,close by the verdure-covered banks of the silvery Tameez, where thecypresses wave, and zendewans, or nightingales, love to sing"(Thackeray, "Life of Sir C. Napier," iv. p. 158).]

_AN ANSWER TO HIS "HISTORIC DOUBTS"--HIS EDITION OF GRAMMONT._

TO THE REV. WILLIAM COLE.

ARLINGTON STREET, _Jan._ 8, 1773.

In return to your very kind inquiries, dear Sir, I can let you know,that I am quite free from pain, and walk a little about my room, evenwithout a stick: nay, have been four times to take the air in the Park.Indeed, after fourteen weeks this is not saying much; but it is a worsereflection, that when one is subject to the gout and far from young,one's worst account will probably be better than that after the nextfit. I neither flatter myself on one hand, nor am impatient on theother--for will either do one any good? one must bear one's lot whateverit be.

I rejoice Mr. Gulston has justice,[1] though he had no bowels. HowGertrude More escaped him I do not guess. It will be wrong to rob you ofher, after she has come to you through so many hazards--nor would I hearof it either, if you have a mind to keep her, or have not given up allthoughts of a collection since you have been visited by a Visigoth.

I am much more impatient to see Mr. Gray's print, than Mr.What-d'ye-call-him's [Masters's] answer to my "Historic Doubts."[1] Hemay have made himself very angry; but I doubt whether he will make me atall so. I love antiquities; but I scarce ever knew an antiquary who knewhow to write upon them. Their understandings seem as much in ruins asthe things they describe. For the Antiquarian Society, I shall leavethem in peace with Whittington and his Cat. As my contempt for them hasnot, however, made me disgusted with what they do not understand,antiquities, I have published two numbers of "Miscellanies," and theyare very welcome to mumble them with their toothless gums. I want tosend you these--not their gums, but my pieces, and a "Grammont,"[2] ofwhich I have printed only a hundred copies, and which will be extremelyscarce, as twenty-five copies are gone to France. Tell me how I shallconvey them safely.

[Footnote 1: Mr. Masters's pamphlet, printed at the expense of theAntiquarian Society in the second volume of the"Archaeologia."--WALPOLE.]

[Footnote 2: He had just published a small edition of Grammont'sMemoirs, "Augmentee de Notes et eclaircissemens necessaires, par M.Horace Walpole," and had dedicated it to Mme. du Deffand.]

Another thing you must tell me, if you can, is, if you know anythingancient of the Freemasons. Governor Pownall,[1] a Whittingtonian, has amind they should have been a corporation erected by the popes. As yousee what a good creature I am, and return good for evil, I am engaged topick up what I can for him, to support this system, in which I believeno more than in the pope: and the work is to appear in a volume of theSociety's pieces. I am very willing to oblige him, and turn my cheek,that they may smite that, also. Lord help them! I am sorry they are suchnumskulls, that they almost make me think myself something; but thereare great authors enough to bring me to my senses again. Posterity, Ifear, will class me with the writers of this age, or forget me withthem, not rank me with any names that deserve remembrance. If I cannotsurvive the Milles's, the What-d'ye-call-him's [Masters's], and thecompilers of catalogues of Topography, it would comfort me very littleto confute them. I should be as little proud of success as if I hadcarried a contest for churchwarden.

[Footnote 1: Thomas Pownall, Esq., the antiquary, and a constantcontributor to the "Archaeologia." Having been governor of SouthCarolina and other American colonies, he was always distinguished fromhis brother John, who was likewise an antiquary, by the title ofGovernor.]

Not being able to return to Strawberry Hill, where all my books andpapers are, and my printer lying fallow, I want some short bills toprint. Have you anything you wish printed? I can either print a few toamuse ourselves, or, if very curious, and not too dry, could make athird number of "Miscellaneous Antiquities."

I am not in any eagerness to see Mr. What-d'ye-call-him's pamphletagainst me; therefore pray give yourself no trouble to get it for me.The specimens I have seen of his writing take off all edge fromcuriosity. A print of Mr. Gray will be a real present. Would it not bedreadful to be commended by an age that had not taste enough to admirehis "Odes"? Is not it too great a compliment to me to be abused, too? Iam ashamed. Indeed our antiquaries ought to like me. I am but too muchon a par with them. Does not Mr. Henshaw come to London? Is he aprofessor, or only a lover of engraving? If the former, and he were tosettle in town, I would willingly lend him heads to copy. Adieu!

_POPULARITY OF LOUIS XVI--DEATH OF LORD HOLLAND--BRUCE'S "TRAVELS."_

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _July_ 10, 1774.

The month is come round, and I have, besides, a letter of yours toanswer; and yet if I were not as regular as a husband or a merchant inpaying my just dues, I think I should not perform the function, for Icertainly have no natural call to it at present. Nothing in yoursrequires a response, and I have nothing new to tell you. Yet, if oneonce breaks in upon punctuality, adieu to it! I will not give out, aftera perseverance of three-and-thirty years; and so far I will not resemblea husband.

The whole blood royal of France is recovered from the small-pox. BothChoiseul and Broglie are recalled, and I have some idea that even theold Parliament will be so. The King is adored, and a most beautifulcompliment has been paid to him: somebody wrote under the statue ofHenri Quatre, _Resurrexit_.[1]

[Footnote 1: "_Resurrexit._" A courtly picture-dealer, eager to make amarket of the new sovereign's popularity, devised even a neatercompliment to him, issuing a picture of the three sovereigns--LouisXII., Henri IV., and the young king--with an explanation that 4 and 12made 16.]

Lord Holland is at last dead, and Lady Holland is at the point of death.His sons would still be in good circumstances, if they were not _his_sons; but he had so totally spoiled the two eldest, that they wouldthink themselves bigots if they were to have common sense. Theprevailing style is not to reform, though Lord Lyttelton [the bad Lord]pretends to have set the example. Gaming, for the last month, hasexceeded its own outdoings, though the town is very empty. It will bequite so to-morrow, for Newmarket begins, or rather the youth adjournthither. After that they will have two or three months of repose; but ifthey are not severely blooded and blistered, there will be noalteration. Their pleasures are no more entertaining to others, thandelightful to themselves; one is tired of asking every day, who has wonor lost? and even the portentous sums they lose, cease to makeimpression. One of them has committed a murder, and intends to repeatit. He betted L1,500 that a man could live twelve hours under water;hired a desperate fellow, sunk him in a ship, by way of experiment, andboth ship and man have not appeared since. Another man and ship are tobe tried for their lives, instead of Mr. Blake, the assassin.

Christina, Duchess of Kingston, is arrived, in a great fright, Ibelieve, for the Duke's nephews are going to prove her first marriage,and hope to set the Will aside. It is a pity her friendship with thePope had not begun earlier; he might have given her a dispensation. Ifshe loses her cause, the best thing he can do will be to give her theveil.

I am sorry all Europe will not furnish me with another paragraph. Africais, indeed, coming into fashion. There is just returned a Mr. Bruce,[1]who has lived three years in the Court of Abyssinia, and breakfastedevery morning with the Maids of Honour on live oxen. Otaheite and Mr.Banks are quite forgotten; but Mr. Blake, I suppose, will order a livesheep for supper at Almack's, and ask whom he shall help to a piece ofthe shoulder. Oh, yes; we shall have negro butchers, and French cookswill be laid aside. My Lady Townshend [Harrison], after the Rebellion,said, everybody was so bloodthirsty, that she did not dare to dineabroad, for fear of meeting with a rebel-pie--now one shall be asked tocome and eat a bit of raw mutton. In truth, I do think we are ripe forany extravagance. I am not wise enough to wish the world reasonable--Ionly desire to have follies that are amusing, and am sorry Cervanteslaughed chivalry out of fashion. Adieu!

[Footnote 1: When Bruce's "Travels" were first published, his account ofthe strange incidents which had occurred to him was very generallydisbelieved and ridiculed; "Baron Munchausen" was even written inderision of them; but the discoveries of subsequent travellers haveconfirmed his narrative in almost every respect.]

_DISCONTENT IN AMERICA--MR. GRENVILLE'S ACT FOR THE TRIAL OF ELECTIONPETITIONS--HIGHWAY ROBBERIES._

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _Oct._ 6, 1774.

It would be unlike my attention and punctuality, to see so large anevent as an irregular dissolution of Parliament, without taking anynotice of it to you. It happened last Saturday, six months before itsnatural death, and without the design being known but the Tuesdaybefore, and that by very few persons. The chief motive is supposed to bethe ugly state of North America,[1] and the effects that a cross wintermight have on the next elections. Whatever were the causes, the firstconsequences, as you may guess, were such a ferment in London as isseldom seen at this dead season of the year. Couriers, despatches,post-chaises, post-horses, hurrying every way! Sixty messengers passedthrough one single turnpike on Friday. The whole island is by this timein equal agitation; but less wine and money will be shed than have beenat any such period for these fifty years.

[Footnote 1: "_America_"--the discontents in that country were caused byMr. Charles Townshend's policy, who, before his death, had revived Mr.Grenville's plan of imposing taxes on the Colonies, and by theperseverance in that policy of Lord North, who succeeded him at theExchequer, and who had also been First Lord of the Treasury since theresignation of the Duke of Grafton.]

We have a new famous Bill,[1] devised by the late Mr. Grenville, thathas its first operation now; and what changes it may occasion, nobodycan yet foresee. The first symptoms are not favourable to the Court;the great towns are casting off submission, and declaring for popularmembers. London, Westminster, Middlesex, seem to have no monarch butWilkes, who is at the same time pushing for the Mayoralty of London,with hitherto a majority on the poll. It is strange how this man, like aphoenix, always revives from his embers! America, I doubt, is still moreunpromising. There are whispers of their having assembled an armedforce, and of earnest supplications arrived for succours of men andships. A civil war is no trifle; and how we are to suppress or pursue insuch a vast region, with a handful of men, I am not an Alexander toguess; and for the fleet, can we put it upon casters and wheel it fromHudson's Bay to Florida? But I am an ignorant soul, and neither pretendto knowledge nor foreknowledge. All I perceive already is, that ourParliaments are subjected to America and India, and must be influencedby their politics; yet I do not believe our senators are more universalthan formerly....

[Footnote 1: Mr. Grenville's Act had been passed in 1770; but there hadbeen no General Election since till this year. It altered the course ofproceeding for the trial of election petitions, substituting for thewhole House a Select Committee of fifteen members; but after a time itwas found that it had not secured any greater purity of decision, butthat the votes of the Committee were influenced by considerations of theinterest of the dominant party as entirely as they had been in the daysof Sir R. Walpole. And eventually, in the present reign, Mr. D'Israeliinduced the House to surrender altogether its privilege of judging ofelections, and to submit the investigation of election petitions to theonly tribunal sufficiently above suspicion to command and retain theconfidence of the nation, namely, the Judges of the High Court of Law.(See the Editor's "Constitutional History of England, 1760-1860," pp.36-39.)]

In the midst of this combustion, we are in perils by land and water. Ithas rained for this month without intermission; there is sea between meand Richmond, and Sunday was se'nnight I was hurried down to Isleworthin the ferry-boat by the violence of the current, and had greatdifficulty to get to shore. Our roads are so infested by highwaymen,that it is dangerous stirring out almost by day. Lady Hertford wasattacked on Hounslow Heath at three in the afternoon. Dr. Eliot was shotat three days ago, without having resisted; and the day beforeyesterday we were near losing our Prime Minster, Lord North; the robbersshot at the postillion, and wounded the latter. In short, all thefreebooters, that are not in India, have taken to the highway. TheLadies of the Bedchamber dare not go the Queen at Kew in an evening. Thelane between me and the Thames is the only safe road I know at present,for it is up to the middle of the horses in water. Next week I shall notventure to London even at noon, for the Middlesex election is to be atBrentford, where the two demagogues, Wilkes and Townshend, oppose eachother; and at Richmond there is no crossing the river. How strange allthis must appear to you Florentines; but you may turn to yourMachiavelli and Guicciardini, and have some idea of it. I am thequietest man at present in the whole island; not but I might take somepart, if I would. I was in my garden yesterday, seeing my servants lopsome trees; my brewer walked in and pressed me to go to Guildhall forthe nomination of members for the county. I replied, calmly, "Sir, whenI would go no more to my own election, you may be very sure I will go tothat of nobody else." My old tune is,

Suave mari magno turbantibus aequora ventis, &c.

Adieu!

P.S.--ARLINGTON STREET, _7th_.

I am just come to town, and find your letter, with the notification ofLord Cowper's marriage; I recollect that I ought to be sorry for it, asyou will probably lose an old friend. The approaching death of the Popewill be an event of no consequence. That old mummery is near itsconclusion, at least as a political object. The history of the latterPopes will be no more read than that of the last ConstantinopolitanEmperors. Wilkes is a more conspicuous personage in modern story thanthe Pontifex Maximus of Rome. The poll for Lord Mayor ended last night;he and his late Mayor had above 1,900 votes, and their antagonists not1,500. It is strange that the more he is opposed, the more he succeeds!

I don't know whether Sir W. Duncan's marriage proved Platonic or not;but I cannot believe that a lady of great birth, and greater pride,quarrels with her family, to marry a Scotch physician for Platonic love,which she might enjoy without marriage. I remember an admirable_bon-mot_ of George Selwyn; who said, "How often Lady Mary will repeat,with Macbeth, 'Wake, Duncan, with this knocking--would thou couldst!"

_THE POPE'S DEATH--WILKES IS RETURNED FOR MIDDLESEX--A QUAKER ATVERSAILLES._

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _Oct._ 22, 1774.

Though I have been writing two letters, of four sides each, one of whichI enclose, I must answer your two last, if my fingers will move; andtalk to you on the contents of the enclosed.

If the Jesuits have precipitated the Pope's death,[1] as seems more thanprobable, they have acted more by the spirit of their order, than by itsgood sense. Great crimes may raise a growing cause, but seldom retardthe fall of a sinking one. This I take to be almost an infallible maxim.Great crimes, too, provoke more than they terrify; and there is nopoisoning all that are provoked, and all that are terrified; whoalternately provoke and terrify each other, till common danger producescommon security. The Bourbon monarchs will be both angry and frightened,the Cardinals frightened. It will be the interest of both not to revivean order that bullies with arsenic in its sleeve. The poisoned host willdestroy the Jesuits, as well as the Pope: and perhaps the Church of Romewill fall by a wafer, as it rose by it; for such an edifice will tumblewhen once the crack has begun.

[Footnote 1: Pope Benedict XIV. had died in September; but there was notany suspicion that his death had not been entirely natural.]

Our elections are almost over. Wilkes has taken possession of Middlesexwithout an enemy appearing against him; and, being as puissant a monarchas Henry the Eighth, and as little scrupulous, should, like him, datehis acts _From our Palace of Bridewell, in the tenth year of our reign_.He has, however, met with a heroine to stem the tide of his conquests;who, though not of Arc, nor a _pucelle_, is a true _Joan_ in spirit,style, and manners. This is her Grace of Northumberland [Lady ElizabethSeymour], who has carried the mob of Westminster from him; sitting dailyin the midst of Covent Garden; and will elect her son [Earl Percy] andLord Thomas Clinton,[1] against Wilkes's two candidates, Lord Mahon[2]and Lord Mountmorris. She puts me in mind of what Charles the Secondsaid of a foolish preacher, who was very popular in his parish: "Isuppose his nonsense suits their nonsense."

[Footnote 1: Second son of Henry, Duke of Newcastle.--WALPOLE.]

[Footnote 2: Only son of Earl Stanhope.--WALPOLE.]

Let me sweeten my letter by making you smile. A Quaker has been atVersailles; and wanted to see the Comtes de Provence and D'Artois dinein public, but would not submit to pull off his hat. The Princes weretold of it; and not only admitted him with his beaver on, but made himsit down and dine with them. Was it not very sensible and good-humoured?You and I know one who would not have been so gracious: I do not mean mynephew Lord Cholmondeley.[1] Adieu! I am tired to death.

[Footnote 1: He means the Duke of Gloucester.--WALPOLE.]

P.S.--I have seen the Duchess of Beaufort; who sings your praises quitein a tune I like. Her manner is much unpinioned to what it was, thoughher person remains as stately as ever; and powder is vastly preferableto those brown hairs, of whose preservation she was so fond. I am not sostruck with the beauty of Lady Mary[1] as I was three years ago. Yournephew, Sir Horace, I see, by the papers, is come into Parliament: I amglad of it. Is not he yet arrived at Florence?

[Footnote 1: Lady Mary Somerset, youngest daughter of Charles Noel, Dukeof Beaufort. She was afterwards married to the Duke ofRutland.--WALPOLE.]

_BURKE'S ELECTION AT BRISTOL--RESEMBLANCE OF ONE HOUSE OF COMMONS TOANOTHER--COMFORT OF OLD AGE._

TO THE COUNTESS OF AILESBURY.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _Nov._ 7, 1774.

I have written such tomes to Mr. Conway,[1] Madam, and so nothing new towrite, that I might as well, methinks, begin and end like the lady toher husband; "Je vous ecris parceque je n'ai rien a faire: je finisparceque je n'ai rien a vous dire." Yes, I have two complaints to make,one of your ladyship, the other of myself. You tell me nothing of LadyHarriet [Stanhope]: have you no tongue, or the French no eyes? or areher eyes employed in nothing but seeing? What a vulgar employment for afine woman's eyes after she is risen from her toilet? I declare I willask no more questions--what is it to me, whether she is admired or not?I should know how charming she is, though all Europe were blind. I hopeI am not to be told by any barbarous nation upon earth what beauty andgrace are!

[Footnote 1: Mr. Conway and Lady Aylesbury were now at Paristogether.--WALPOLE.]

For myself, I am guilty of the gout in my elbow; the left--witness myhandwriting. Whether I caught cold by the deluge in the night, orwhether the bootikins, like the water of Styx, can only preserve theparts they surround, I doubt they have saved me but three weeks, for solong my reckoning has been out. However, as I feel nothing in my feet, Iflatter myself that this Pindaric transition will not be a regular ode,but a fragment, the more valuable for being imperfect.

Now for my Gazette.--Marriages--Nothing done. Intrigues--More in thepolitical than civil way. Births--Under par since Lady Berkeley left offbreeding. Gaming--Low water. Deaths--Lord Morton, Lord Wentworth,Duchess Douglas. Election stock--More buyers than sellers.Promotions--Mr. Wilkes as high as he can go.--_Apropos_, he was told theLord Chancellor intended to signify to him, that the King did notapprove the City's choice: he replied, "Then I shall signify to hislordship, that I am at least as fit to be Lord Mayor as he is to be LordChancellor." This being more Gospel than everything Mr. Wilkes says, theformal approbation was given.

Mr. Burke has succeeded in Bristol, and Sir James Peachey will miscarryin Sussex. But what care you, Madam, about our Parliament? You will seethe _rentree_ of the old one, with songs and epigrams into the bargain.We do not shift our Parliaments with so much gaiety. Money in one hand,and abuse in t'other--those are all the arts we know. _Wit and agamut_[1] I don't believe ever signified a Parliament, whatever theglossaries may say; for they never produce pleasantry and harmony.Perhaps you may not taste this Saxon pun, but I know it will make theAntiquarian Society die with laughing.

[Footnote 1: Walpole is punning on the old Saxon name of the NationalCouncil, Witangemot.]

Expectation hangs on America. The result of the general assembly isexpected in four or five days. If one may believe the papers, which oneshould not believe, the other side of the waterists are not _doux commedes moutons_, and yet we do intend to eat them. I was in town on Monday;the Duchess of Beaufort graced our loo, and made it as rantipole as aQuaker's meeting. _Loois Quinze_,[1] I believe, is arrived by this time,but I fear without _quinze louis_.

[Footnote 1: This was a cant name given to a lady [Lady Powis], who wasvery fond of loo, and who had lost much money at that game.]

Your herb-snuff and the four glasses are lying in my warehouse, but Ican hear of no ship going to Paris. You are now at Fontainbleau, but notthinking of Francis I., the Queen of Sweden, and Monaldelschi. It isterrible that one cannot go to Courts that are gone! You have suppedwith the Chevalier de Boufflers: did he act everything in the world andsing everything in the world? Has Madame de Cambis sung to you "_Sansdepit, sans legerete_?"[1] Has Lord Cholmondeley delivered my pacquet? Ihear I have hopes of Madame d'Olonne. Gout or no gout, I shall be littlein town till after Christmas. My elbow makes me bless myself that I amnot in Paris. Old age is no such uncomfortable thing, if one givesoneself up to it with a good grace, and don't drag it about

To midnight dances and the public show.

[Footnote 1: The first words of a favourite French air.--WALPOLE.]

If one stays quietly in one's own house in the country, and cares fornothing but oneself, scolds one's servants, condemns everything that isnew, and recollects how charming a thousand things were formerly thatwere very disagreeable, one gets over the winters very well, and thesummers get over themselves.

_DEATH OF LORD CLIVE--RESTORATION OF THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT--PREDICTIONOF GREAT MEN TO ARISE IN AMERICA--THE KING'S SPEECH._

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _Nov._ 24, 1774.

... A great event happened two days ago--a political and moral event;the sudden death of that second Kouli Khan, Lord Clive.[1] There wascertainly illness in the case; the world thinks more than illness. Hisconstitution was exceedingly broken and disordered, and grown subject toviolent pains and convulsions. He came unexpectedly to town last Monday,and they say, ill. On Tuesday his physician gave him a dose of laudanum,which had not the desired effect. On the rest, there are two stories;one, that the physician repeated the dose; the other, that he doubled ithimself, contrary to advice. In short, he has terminated at fifty a lifeof so much glory, reproach, art, wealth, and ostentation! He had justnamed ten members for the new Parliament.

[Footnote 1: Lord Clive had committed suicide in his house in BerkeleySquare. As he was passing through his library his niece, who was writinga letter, asked him to mend a pen for her. He did it, and, passing oninto the next room, cut his throat with the same knife he had just used.It is remarkable that, when little more than a youth, he had once triedto destroy himself. In a fit, apparently of constitutional melancholy,he had put a pistol to his head, but it did not go off. He pulled thetrigger more than once; always with the same result. Anxious to seewhether there was any defect in the weapon or the loading, he aimed atthe door of the room, and the pistol went off, the bullet going throughthe door; and from that day he conceived himself reserved by Providencefor great things, though in his most sanguine confidence he could neverhave anticipated such glory as he was destined to win.]

Next Tuesday that Parliament is to meet--and a deep game it has to play!few Parliaments a greater. The world is in amaze here that no account isarrived from America of the result of their General Congress--if any iscome it is very secret; and _that_ has no favourable aspect. Thecombination and spirit there seem to be universal, and is very alarming.I am the humble servant of events, and you know never meddle withprophecy. It would be difficult to descry good omens, be the issue whatit will.

The old French Parliament is restored with great _eclat_.[1] Monsieur deMaurepas, author of the revolution, was received one night at the Operawith boundless shouts of applause. It is even said that the mobintended, when the King should go to hold the _lit de justice_,[2] todraw his coach. How singular it would be if Wilkes's case should becopied for a King of France! Do you think Rousseau was in the right,when he said that he could tell what would be the manners of any capitalcity from certain given lights? I don't know what he may do onConstantinople and Pekin--but Paris and London! I don't believe Voltairelikes these changes. I have seen nothing of his writing for many months;not even on the poisoning Jesuits. For our part, I repeat it, we shallcontribute nothing to the _Histoire des Moeurs_, not for want ofmaterials, but for want of writers. We have comedies without novelty,gross satires without stings, metaphysical eloquence, and antiquariansthat discover nothing.

Boeotum in crasso jurares aere natos!

[Footnote 1: In 1770 the Chancellor, Maupeou, had abolished theParliament, as has been mentioned in a former note. Their conduct eversince the death of Richelieu had been factious and corrupt. But, thoughthe Sovereign Courts, which Maupeou had established in their stead, hadworked well, their extinction had been unpopular in Paris; and, on theaccession of Louis XVI., the new Prime Minister, Maurepas, proposedtheir re-establishment, and the Queen, most unfortunately, was persuadedby the Duc de Choiseul to exert her influence in support of the measure.Turgot, the great Finance Minister--indeed, the greatest statesman thatFrance ever produced--resisted it with powerful arguments, but Louisyielded to the influence of his consort. The Parliaments werere-established, and soon verified all the predictions of Turgot byconduct more factious and violent than ever. (See the Editor's "Franceunder the Bourbons," iii. 413.)]

[Footnote 2: A _Lit de Justice_ was an extraordinary meeting of theParliament, presided over by the sovereign in person, and one in whichno opposition, or even discussion, was permitted; but any edict whichhad been issued was at once registered.]

Don't tell me I am grown old and peevish and supercilious--name thegeniuses of 1774, and I submit. The next Augustan age will dawn on theother side of the Atlantic. There will, perhaps, be a Thucydides atBoston, a Xenophon at New York, and, in time, a Virgil at Mexico, and aNewton at Peru. At last, some curious traveller from Lima will visitEngland and give a description of the ruins of St. Paul's, like theeditions of Balbec and Palmyra; but am I not prophesying, contrary to myconsummate prudence, and casting horoscopes of empires like Rousseau?Yes; well, I will go and dream of my visions.

_29th._

... The Parliament opened just now--they say the speech talks of the_rebellion_ of the Province of Massachusetts; but if _they-say_ tells alie, I wash my hands of it. As your gazetteer, I am obliged to send youall news, true or false. I have believed and unbelieved everything Ihave heard since I came to town. Lord Clive has died every death in theparish register; at present it is most fashionable to believe he cut histhroat. That he is dead, is certain; so is Lord Holland--and so is notthe Bishop of Worcester [Johnson]; however, to show you that I am atleast as well informed as greater personages, the bishopric was onSaturday given to Lord North's brother--so for once the Irishman was inthe right, and a pigeon, at least a dove, can be in two places at once.

_RIOTS AT BOSTON--A LITERARY COTERIE AT BATH--EASTON._

TO THE HON. H.S. CONWAY AND LADY AYLESBURY.

ARLINGTON STREET, _Jan._ 15, 1775.

You have made me very happy by saying your journey to Naples is laidaside. Perhaps it made too great an impression on me; but you mustreflect, that all my life I have satisfied myself with your beingperfect, instead of trying to be so myself. I don't ask you to return,though I wish it: in truth, there is nothing to invite you. I don't wantyou to come and breathe fire and sword against the Bostonians,[1] likethat second Duke of Alva,[2] the inflexible Lord George Germaine....

[Footnote 1: The open resistance to the new taxation of the AmericanColonies began at Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, where, on thearrival of the first tea-ship, a body of citizens, disguised as RedIndians, boarded the ship and threw the tea into the sea.]

[Footnote 2: The first Duke of Alva was the first Governor of theNetherlands appointed by Philip II.; and it was his bloodthirsty andintolerable cruelty that caused the revolt of the Netherlands, and costSpain those rich provinces.]

An account is come of the Bostonians having voted an army of sixteenthousand men, who are to be called _minutemen_, as they are to be readyat a minute's warning. Two directors or commissioners, I don't know whatthey are called, are appointed. There has been too a kind of mutiny inthe Fifth Regiment. A soldier was found drunk on his post. Gage, in histime of _danger_, thought rigour necessary, and sent the fellow to acourt-martial. They ordered two hundred lashes. The General ordered themto improve their sentence. Next day it was published in the _BostonGazette_. He called them before him, and required them on oath to abjurethe communication: three officers refused. Poor Gage is to be scapegoat,not for this, but for what was a reason against employing him,incapacity. I wonder at the precedent! Howe is talked of for hissuccessor.--Well, I have done with _you_!--Now I shall go gossip withLady Aylesbury.

You must know, Madam, that near Bath is erected a new Parnassus,composed of three laurels, a myrtle-tree, a weeping-willow, and a viewof the Avon, which has been new christened Helicon. Ten years ago therelived a Madam Riggs, an old rough humourist who passed for a wit; herdaughter, who passed for nothing, married to a Captain Miller, full ofgood-natured officiousness. These good folks were friends of Miss Rich,who carried me to dine with them at Bath-Easton, now Pindus. They caughta little of what was then called taste, built and planted, and begotchildren, till the whole caravan were forced to go abroad to retrieve.Alas! Mrs. Miller is returned a beauty, a genius, a Sappho, a tenthMuse, as romantic as Mademoiselle Scuderi, and as sophisticated as Mrs.Vesey. The Captain's fingers are loaded with cameos, his tongue runsover with _virtu_, and that both may contribute to the improvement oftheir own country, they have introduced _bouts-rimes_ as a newdiscovery. They hold a Parnassus fair every Thursday, give out rhymesand themes, and all the flux of quality at Bath contend for the prizes.A Roman vase dressed with pink ribbons and myrtles receives thepoetry,[1] which is drawn out every festival; six judges of theseOlympic games retire and select the brightest compositions, which therespective successful acknowledge, kneel to Mrs. Calliope Miller, kissher fair hand, and are crowned by it with myrtle, with--I don't knowwhat. You may think this is fiction, or exaggeration. Be dumb,unbelievers! The collection is printed, published.--Yes, on my faith,there are _bouts-rimes_ on a buttered muffin, made by her Grace theDuchess of Northumberland; receipts to make them by Corydon thevenerable, alias George Pitt; others very pretty, by Lord Palmerston;some by Lord Carlisle: many by Mrs. Miller herself, that have no faultbut wanting metre; an Immorality promised to her without end or measure.In short, since folly, which never ripens to madness but in this hotclimate, ran distracted, there never was anything so entertaining or sodull--for you cannot read so long as I have been telling.

[Footnote 1: Four volumes of this poetry were published under the titleof "Poetical Amusements at a villa near Bath." The following lines are afair sample of the _bouts-rimes_.

The pen which I now take and brandish Has long lain useless in my standish. Know, every maid, from her own patten, To her who shines in glossy sattin, That could they now prepare an oglio From best receipt of book in folio, Ever so fine, for all their puffing, I should prefer a butter'd muffin; A muffin Jove himself might feast on, If eat with Miller at Batheaston.

The following are the concluding lines of a poem on Beauty, by LordPalmerston:--

In vain the stealing hand of Time May pluck the blossoms of their prime; Envy may talk of bloom decay'd, How lilies droop and roses fade; But Constancy's unalter'd truth, Regardful of the vows of youth-- Affection that recalls the past, And bids the pleasing influence last, Shall still preserve the lover's flame In every scene of life the same; And still with fond endearments blend The wife, the mistress, and the friend!

"Lady Miller's collection of verses by fashionable people, which wereput into her vase at Bath-Easton, in competition for honorary prizes,being mentioned, Dr. Johnson held them very cheap: '_Bouts-rimes_,' saidhe, 'is a mere conceit, and an old conceit; I wonder how people werepersuaded to write in that manner for this lady.' I named a gentleman ofhis acquaintance who wrote for the vase. JOHNSON--'He was a blockheadfor his pains!' BOSWELL--'The Duchess of Northumberland wrote.'--'Sir,the Duchess of Northumberland may do what she pleases; nobody will sayanything to a lady of her high rank: but I should be apt to throw ...verses in his face." (Boswell, vol. v. p. 227.)]

_OPPOSITION OF THE FRENCH PARLIAMENTS TO TURGOT'S MEASURES._

TO DR. GEM.[1]

[Footnote 1: Dr. Gem was an English physician who had been for some timesettled in Paris. He was uncle to Canning's friend and colleague, Mr.Huskisson.]

ARLINGTON STREET, _April_ 4, 1776.

It is but fair, when one quits one's party, to give notice to those oneabandons--at least, modern patriots, who often imbibe their principlesof honour at Newmarket, use that civility. You and I, dear Sir, haveoften agreed in our political notions; and you, I fear, will die withoutchanging your opinion. For my part, I must confess I am totally altered;and, instead of being a warm partisan of liberty, now admire nothing butdespotism. You will naturally ask, what place I have gotten, or whatbribe I have taken? Those are the criterions of political changes inEngland--but, as my conversion is of foreign extraction, I shall not bethe richer for it. In one word, it is the _relation du lit de justice_that has operated the miracle. When two ministers are found so humane,so virtuous, so excellent, as to study nothing but the welfare anddeliverance of the people; when a king listens to such excellent men;and when a parliament, from the basest, most interested motives,interposes to intercept the blessing, must I not change my opinions, andadmire arbitrary power? or can I retain my sentiments, without varyingthe object?

Yes, Sir, I am shocked at the conduct of the Parliament--one would thinkit was an English one! I am scandalised at the speeches of the_Avocat-general_,[1] who sets up the odious interests of the nobilityand clergy against the cries and groans of the poor; and who employs hiswicked eloquence to tempt the good young monarch, by personal views, tosacrifice the mass of his subjects to the privileges of the few--But whydo I call it eloquence? The fumes of interest had so clouded hisrhetoric, that he falls into a downright Iricism.--He tells the King,that the intended tax on the proprietors of land will affect theproperty not only of the rich, but of the poor. I should be glad to knowwhat is the property of the poor? Have the poor landed estates? Arethose who have landed estates the poor? Are the poor that will suffer bythe tax, the wretched labourers who are dragged from their famishingfamilies to work on the roads?--But _it is_ wicked eloquence when itfinds a reason, or gives a reason for continuing the abuse. The Advocatetells the King, those abuses _presque consacres par l'anciennete_;indeed, he says all that can be said for nobility, it is _consacree parl'anciennete_; and thus the length of the pedigree of abuses rendersthem respectable!

[Footnote 1: The _Avocat-General_ was M. de Seguier; and, under hisguidance, the Parliament had passed the monstrous resolution that "the_people_ in France was liable to the tax of _la taille_, and to _corvee_at discretion" (_etait tailleable et corveable a volonte_), and thattheir "liability was an article of the Constitution which it was not inthe power of even the King himself to change" ("France under theBourbons," iii. 422).]

His arguments are as contemptible when he tries to dazzle the King bythe great names of Henri Quatre and Sully,[1] of Louis XIV. and Colbert,two couple whom nothing but a mercenary orator would have classedtogether. Nor, were all four equally venerable, would it prove anything.Even good kings and good ministers, if such have been, may have erred;nay, may have done the best they could. They would not have been good,if they wished their errors should be preserved, the longer they hadlasted.

[Footnote 1: Sully and Colbert were the two great Finance Ministers ofHenry IV. and Louis XIV.]

In short, Sir, I think this resistance of the Parliament to the adorablereformation planned by Messrs. de Turgot and Malesherbes[1] is morephlegmatically scandalous than the wildest tyranny of despotism. Iforget what the nation was that refused liberty when it was offered.This opposition to so noble a work is worse. A whole people may refuseits own happiness; but these profligate magistrates resist happiness forothers, for millions, for posterity!--Nay, do they not half vindicateMaupeou, who crushed them? And you, dear Sir, will you now chide myapostasy? Have I not cleared myself to your eyes? I do not see a shadowof sound logic in all Monsieur Seguier's speeches, but in his proposingthat the soldiers should work on the roads, and that passengers shouldcontribute to their fabric; though, as France is not so luxuriously madas England, I do not believe passengers could support the expense oftheir roads. That argument, therefore, is like another that the Avocatproposes to the King, and which, he modestly owns, he believes would beimpracticable.

[Footnote 1: Malesherbes was the Chancellor, and in 1792 he was acceptedby Louis XVI. as his counsel on his trial--a duty which he performedwith an ability which drew on him the implacable resentment ofRobespierre and the Jacobins, and which led to his execution in 1794.]

I beg your pardon, Sir, for giving you this long trouble; but I couldnot help venting myself, when shocked to find such renegade conduct in aParliament that I was rejoiced had been restored. Poor human kind! is italways to breed serpents from its own bowels? In one country, it choosesits representatives, and they sell it and themselves; in others, itexalts despots; in another, it resists the despot when he consults thegood of his people! Can we wonder mankind is wretched, when men are suchbeings? Parliaments run wild with loyalty, when America is to beenslaved or butchered. They rebel, when their country is to be set free!I am not surprised at the idea of the devil being always at our elbows.They who invented him, no doubt could not conceive how men could be soatrocious to one another, without the intervention of a fiend. Don't youthink, if he had never been heard of before, that he would have beeninvented on the late partition of Poland! Adieu, dear Sir. Yours mostsincerely.

_HIS DECORATIONS AT "STRAWBERRY"--HIS ESTIMATE OF HIMSELF, AND HISADMIRATION OF CONWAY._

TO THE HON. H.S. CONWAY.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _June_ 20, 1776.

I was very glad to receive your letter, not only because always mostglad to hear of you, but because I wished to write to you, and hadabsolutely nothing to say till I had something to answer. I have lainbut two nights in town since I saw you; have been, else, constantlyhere, very much employed, though doing, hearing, knowing exactlynothing. I have had a Gothic architect [Mr. Essex] from Cambridge todesign me a gallery, which will end in a mouse, that is, in an hexagoncloset of seven feet diameter. I have been making a Beauty Room, whichwas effected by buying two dozen of small copies of Sir Peter Lely, andhanging them up; and I have been making hay, which is not made, becauseI put it off for three days, as I chose it should adorn the landscapewhen I was to have company; and so the rain is come, and has drowned it.However, as I can even turn calculator when it is to comfort me for notminding my interest, I have discovered that it is five to one better forme that my hay should be spoiled than not; for, as the cows will eat itif it is damaged, which horses will not, and as I have five cows and butone horse, is not it plain that the worse my hay is the better? Do notyou with your refining head go, and, out of excessive friendship, findout something to destroy my system. I had rather be a philosopher thana rich man; and yet have so little philosophy, that I had much rather becontent than be in the right.

Mr. Beauclerk and Lady Di have been here four or five days--so I hadboth content and exercise for my philosophy. I wish Lady Ailesbury wasas fortunate! The Pembrokes, Churchills, Le Texier, as you will haveheard, and the Garricks have been with us. Perhaps, if alone, I mighthave come to you; but you are all too healthy and harmonious. I canneither walk nor sing; nor, indeed, am fit for anything but to amusemyself in a sedentary trifling way. What I have most certainly not beendoing, is writing anything: a truth I say to you, but do not desire youto repeat. I deign to satisfy scarce anybody else. Whoever reported thatI was writing anything, must have been so totally unfounded, that theyeither blundered by guessing without reason, or knew they lied--and thatcould not be with any kind intention; though saying I am going to dowhat I am not going to do, is wretched enough. Whatever is said of mewithout truth, anybody is welcome to believe that pleases.

In fact, though I have scarce a settled purpose about anything, I thinkI shall never write any more. I have written a great deal too much,unless I had written better, and I know I should now only write stillworse. One's talent, whatever it is, does not improve at nearsixty--yet, if I liked it, I dare to say a good reason would not stop myinclination;--but I am grown most indolent in that respect, and mostabsolutely indifferent to every purpose of vanity. Yet without vanity Iam become still prouder and more contemptuous. I have a contempt for mycountrymen that makes me despise their approbation. The applause ofslaves and of the foolish mad is below ambition. Mine is the haughtinessof an ancient Briton, that cannot write what would please this age, andwould not, if he could.

Whatever happens in America, this country is undone. I desire to bereckoned of the last age, and to be thought to have lived to besuperannuated, preserving my senses only for myself and for the few Ivalue. I cannot aspire to be traduced like Algernon Sydney, and contentmyself with sacrificing to him amongst my lares. Unalterable in myprinciples, careless about most things below essentials, indulgingmyself in trifles by system, annihilating myself by choice, but dreadingfolly at an unseemly age, I contrive to pass my time agreeably enough,yet see its termination approach without anxiety. This is a true pictureof my mind; and it must be true, because drawn for you, whom I would notdeceive, and could not, if I would. Your question on my being writingdrew it forth, though with more seriousness than the reportdeserved--yet talking to one's dearest friend is neither wrong nor outof season. Nay, you are my best apology. I have always contented myselfwith your being perfect, or, if your modesty demands a mitigated term, Iwill say, unexceptionable. It is comical, to be sure, to have alwaysbeen more solicitous about the virtue of one's friend than about one'sown; yet, I repeat it, you are my apology--though I never was sounreasonable as to make you answerable for my faults in return; I takethem wholly to myself. But enough of this. When I know my own mind, forhitherto I have settled no plan for my summer, I will come to you.Adieu!

_ANGLOMANIE IN PARIS--HORSE-RACING._

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _Dec._ 1, 1776.

I don't know who the Englishwoman is of whom you give so ridiculous adescription; but it will suit thousands. I distrust my age continually,and impute to it half the contempt I feel for my countrymen and women.If I think the other half well-founded, it is by considering what mustbe said hereafter of the present age. What is to impress a great idea ofus on posterity? In truth, what do our contemporaries of all othercountries think of us? They stare at and condemn our politics andfollies; and if they retain any respect for us, I doubt it is for thesense we have had. I do know, indeed, one man who still worships us, buthis adoration is testified so very absurdly, as not to do us muchcredit. It is a Monsieur de Marchais, first Valet-de-Chambre to theKing of France. He has the _Anglomanie_ so strong, that he has not onlyread more English than French books, but if any valuable work appears inhis own language, he waits to peruse it till it is translated intoEnglish; and to be sure our translations of French are admirable things!

To do the rest of the French justice, I mean such as like us, they adoptonly our egregious follies, and in particular the flower of them,horse-racing![1] _Le Roi Pepin_, a racer, is the horse in fashion. Isuppose the next shameful practice of ours they naturalize will be thepersonal scurrilities in the newspapers, especially on young andhandsome women, in which we certainly are originals! Voltaire, who firstbrought us into fashion in France, is stark mad at his own success. Outof envy to writers of his own nation, he cried up Shakspeare; and now isdistracted at the just encomiums bestowed on that first genius of theworld in the new translation. He sent to the French Academy aninvective that bears all the marks of passionate dotage. Mrs. Montaguhappened to be present when it was read. Suard, one of their writers,said to her, "Je crois, Madame, que vous etes un peu fache de ce quevous venez d'entendre." She replied, "Moi, Monsieur! point du tout! Jene suis pas amie de Monsieur Voltaire." I shall go to town the day afterto-morrow, and will add a postscript, if I hear any news.

[Footnote 1: "A rage for adopting English fashions (Anglomanie, as itwas called) began to prevail; and, among the different modes in which itwas exhibited, it is especially noticed that tea was introduced, andbegan to share with coffee the privilege of affording sober refreshmentto those who aspired in their different ways to give the tone to Frenchsociety. A less innocent novelty was a passion for horse-racing, inwhich the Comte d'Artois and the Duc de Chartres set the example ofindulging, establishing a racecourse in the Bois de Boulogne. The Counthad but little difficulty in persuading the Queen to attend it, and shesoon showed so decided a fancy for the sport, and became so regular avisitor of it, that a small stand was built for her, which in subsequentyears provoked unfavourable comments, when the Prince obtained her leaveto give luncheon to some of their racing friends, who were not in everyinstance of a character entitled to be brought into a royal presence"(the Editor's "Life of Marie Antoinette," c. II).]

_Dec. 3rd._

I am come late, have seen nobody, and must send away my letter.

_OSSIAN--CHATTERTON._

TO THE REV. WILLIAM COLE.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _June_ 19, 1777.

I thank you for your notices, dear Sir, and shall remember that onPrince William. I did see the _Monthly Review_, but hope one is notguilty of the death of every man who does not make one the dupe of aforgery. I believe M'Pherson's success with "Ossian"[1] was more theruin of Chatterton[2] than I. Two years passed between my doubting theauthenticity of Rowley's poems and his death. I never knew he had beenin London till some time after he had undone and poisoned himself there.The poems he sent me were transcripts in his own hand, and even in thatcircumstance he told a lie: he said he had them from the very person atBristol to whom he had given them. If any man was to tell you thatmonkish rhymes had been dug up at Herculaneum, which was destroyedseveral centuries before there was any such poetry, should you believeit? Just the reverse is the case of Rowley's pretended poems. They haveall the elegance of Waller and Prior, and more than Lord Surrey--but Ihave no objection to anybody believing what he pleases. I think poorChatterton was an astonishing genius--but I cannot think that Rowleyforesaw metres that were invented long after he was dead, or that ourlanguage was more refined at Bristol in the reign of Henry V. than itwas at Court under Henry VIII. One of the chaplains of the Bishop ofExeter has found a line of Rowley in "Hudibras"--the monk might foreseethat too! The prematurity of Chatterton's genius is, however, full aswonderful, as that such a prodigy as Rowley should never have been heardof till the eighteenth century. The youth and industry of the former aremiracles, too, yet still more credible. There is not a symptom in thepoems, but the old words, that savours of Rowley's age--change the oldwords for modern, and the whole construction is of yesterday.

[Footnote 1: Macpherson was a Scotch literary man, who in 1760 published"Fingal" in six books, which he declared he had translated from a poemby Ossian, son of Fingal, a Gaelic prince of the third century. For amoment the work was accepted as genuine in some quarters, especially bysome of the Edinburgh divines. But Dr. Johnson denounced it as animposture from the first. He pointed out that Macpherson had neverproduced the manuscripts from which he professed to have translated itwhen challenged to do so. He maintained also that the so-called poem hadno merits; that "it was a mere unconnected rhapsody, a tiresomerepetition of the same images;" and his opinion soon became so generallyadopted, that Macpherson wrote him a furious letter of abuse, eventhreatening him with personal violence; to which Johnson replied "thathe would not be deterred from exposing what he thought a cheat by themenaces of a ruffian"--a reply which seems to have silenced Mr.Macpherson (Boswell's "Life of Johnson," i. 375, ii. 310).]

[Footnote 2: Chatterton's is a melancholy story. In 1768, when a boy ofonly sixteen, he published a volume of ballads which he described as thework of Rowley, a priest of Bristol in the fifteenth century, and whichhe affirmed he had found in an old chest in the crypt of the Church ofSt. Mary Redcliffe at Bristol, of which his father was sexton. They gaveproofs of so rich and precocious a genius, that if he had published themas his own works, he would "have found himself famous" in a moment, asByron did forty years afterwards. But people resented the attempt toimpose on them, Walpole being among the first to point out the proofs oftheir modern composition; and consequently the admiration which hisgenius might have excited was turned into general condemnation of hisimposture, and in despair he poisoned himself in 1770, when he was onlyeighteen years old.]

_AFFAIRS IN AMERICA--THE CZARINA AND THE EMPEROR OF CHINA._

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

ARLINGTON STREET, _Oct._ 26, 1777.

It is past my usual period of writing to you; which would not havehappened but from an uncommon, and indeed, considering the moment, anextraordinary dearth of matter. I could have done nothing but describesuspense, and every newspaper told you that. Still we know nothingcertain of the state of affairs in America; the very existence where, ofthe Howes, is a mystery. The General is said to have beaten Washington,Clinton to have repulsed three attacks, and Burgoyne[1] to be beaten.The second alone is credited. Impatience is very high, and uneasinessincreases with every day. There is no sanguine face anywhere, but manyalarmed ones. The pains taken, by circulating false reports, to keep upsome confidence, only increase the dissatisfaction by disappointing.Some advantage gained may put off clamour for some months: but I think,the longer it is suspended, the more terrible it will be; and how thewar should end but in ruin, I am not wise enough to conjecture. Francesuspends the blow, to make it more inevitable. She has suffered us toundo ourselves: will she allow us time to recover? We have begged herindulgence in the first: will she grant the second prayer?...

[Footnote 1: In June and July General Burgoyne, a man of some literaryas well as military celebrity, achieved some trifling successes over thecolonial army, alternating, however, with some defeats. He tookTiconderoga, but one of his divisions was defeated with heavy loss atBennington--a disaster which, Lord Stanhope says, exercised a fatalinfluence over the rest of the campaign; and finally, a week before thisletter was written, he and all his army were so hemmed in at Saratoga,that they were compelled to lay down their arms--a disgrace which wasthe turning-point of the war, and which is compared by Lord Stanhope tothe capitulation of his own ancestor at Brihuega in the war of theSpanish Succession. The surrender of Saratoga was the event whichdetermined the French and Spaniards to recognise the independence of thecolonies, and consequently to unite with them in the war againstEngland.]

You have heard of the inundation at Petersburg. That ill wind producedluck to somebody. As the Empress had not distressed objects enough amongher own people to gratify her humanity, she turned the torrent of herbounty towards that unhappy relict the Duchess of Kingston, and orderedher Admiralty to take particular care of the marvellous yacht that boreMessalina and her fortune. Pray mind that I bestow the latter Empress'sname on the Duchess, only because she married a second husband in thelifetime of the first. Amongst other benevolences, the Czarina lent herGrace a courier to despatch to England--I suppose to acquaint LordBristol that he is not a widower. That courier brought a letter from afriend to Dr. Hunter, with the following anecdote. Her Imperial Majestyproposed to her brother of China to lay waste a large district thatseparates their two empires, lest it should, as it has been on the pointof doing, produce war between them; the two empires being at the twoextremities of the world, not being distance enough to keep the peace.The ill-bred Tartar sent no answer to so humane a project. On thecontrary, he dispersed a letter to the Russian people, in which he tellsthem that a woman--he might have said the Minerva of the French_literati_--had proposed to him to extirpate all the inhabitants of acertain region belonging to him, but that he knew better what to do withhis own country: however, he could but wonder that the people of all theRussias should still submit to be governed by a creature that hadassassinated her husband.--Oh! if she had pulled the Ottoman by the nosein the midst of Constantinople, as she intended to do, this savage wouldhave been more civilised. I doubt the same rude monarch is still on thethrone, who would not suffer Prince Czernichew to enter his territories,when sent to notify her Majesty's _hereditary_ succession to herhusband; but bade him be told, he would not receive an ambassador from amurderess. Is it not shocking that the law of nations, and the law ofpoliteness, should not yet have abrogated the laws of justice andgood-sense in a nation reckoned so civilised as the Chinese? What an agedo we live in, if there is still a country where the Crown does not takeaway all defects! Good night!

_DEATH OF LORD CHATHAM--THURLOW BECOMES LORD CHANCELLOR._

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _May_ 31, 1778.

I am forced to look at the dates I keep of my letters, to see whatevents I have or have not told you; for at this crisis something happensevery day; though nothing very striking since the death of Lord Chatham,with which I closed my last. No?--yes, but there has. All England, whichhad abandoned him, found out, the moment his eyes were closed, thatnothing but Lord Chatham could have preserved them. How lucky for himthat the experiment cannot be made! Grief is fond, and grief isgenerous. The Parliament will bury him; the City begs the honour ofbeing his grave; and the important question is not yet decided, whetherhe is to lie at Westminster or in St. Paul's; on which it was well said,that it would be "robbing Peter to pay Paul." An annuity of fourthousand pounds is settled on the title of Chatham, and twenty thousandpounds allotted to pay his debts. The Opposition and the Administrationdisputed zeal; and neither care a straw about him. He is already as muchforgotten as John of Gaunt.

General Burgoyne has succeeded and been the topic, and for two daysengrossed the attention of the House of Commons; and probably will beheard of no more. He was even forgotten for three hours while he was onthe tapis, by a violent quarrel between Temple Luttrell (a brother ofthe Duchess of Cumberland) and Lord George Germaine; but the public hastaken affection for neither them nor the General: being much moredisposed at present to hate than to love--except the dead. It will bewell if the ill-humour, which increases, does not break out into overtacts.

I know not what to say of war. The Toulon squadron was certainly blownback. That of Brest is supposed to be destined to invade some part ofthis country or Ireland; or rather, it is probable, will attempt ourfleet. In my own opinion, there is no great alacrity in France--I mean,in the Court of France--for war; and, as we have had time for greatpreparations, their eagerness will not increase. We shall suffer as muchas they can desire by the loss of America, without their risk, and in afew years shall be able to give them no umbrage; especially as ourfrenzy is still so strong, that, if France left us at quiet, I ampersuaded we should totally exhaust ourselves in pursuing the vision ofreconquest. Spain continues to disclaim hostility as you told me. If thereport is true of revolts in Mexico, they would be as good as a bondunder his Catholic Majesty's hand.

We shall at least not doze, as we are used to do, in summer. TheParliament is to have only short adjournments; and our senators, insteadof retiring to horse-races (_their_ plough), are all turned soldiers,and disciplining militia. Camps everywhere, and the ladies in theuniform of their husbands! In short, if the dose is not too strong, alittle adversity would not be quite unseasonable.--A little! you willcry; why what do you call the loss of America? Oh! my dear sir, do youthink a capital as enormous as London has its nerves affected by whathappens beyond the Atlantic? What has become of all your reading? Thereis nothing so unnatural as the feelings of a million of persons who livetogether in one city. They have not one conception like those invillages and in the country. They presume or despond from quitedifferent motives. They have both more sense and less, than those whoare not in contact with a multitude. Wisdom forms empires, but follydissolves them; and a great capital, which dictates to the rest of thecommunity, is always the last to perceive the decays of the whole,because it takes its own greatness for health.

Lord Holdernesse is dead; not quite so considerable a personage as heonce expected to be, though Nature never intended him for anything thathe was. The Chancellor, another child of Fortune, quits the Seals; andthey are, or are to be, given to the Attorney-General, Thurlow, whomnobody will reproach with want of abilities.

As the Parliament will rise on Tuesday, you will not expect my lettersso frequently as of late, especially if hostilities do not commence. Infact, our newspapers tell you everything faster than I can: still Iwrite, because you have more faith in my intelligence; yet all its meritconsists in my not telling you fables. I hear no more than everybodydoes, but I send you only what is sterling; or, at least, give youreports for no more than they are worth. I believe Sir John Dick is muchmore punctual, and hears more; but, till you displace me, I shallexecute my office of being your gazetteer.

I will not dispute with you, dear Sir, on patriots and politics. Onepoint is past controversy, that the Ministers have ruined this country;and if the Church of England is satisfied with being reconciled to theChurch of Rome, and thinks it a compensation for the loss of America andall credit in Europe, she is as silly an old woman as any granny in analmshouse. France is very glad we have grown such fools, and soon sawthat the Presbyterian Dr. Franklin[1] had more sense than our Ministerstogether. She has got over all her prejudices, has expelled the Jesuits,and made the Protestant Swiss, Necker,[2] her Comptroller-general. It isa little woful, that we are relapsing into the nonsense the rest ofEurope is shaking off! and it is more deplorable, as we know by repeatedexperience, that this country has always been disgraced by Toryadministrations. The rubric is the only gainer by them in a few martyrs.

[Footnote 1: Dr. Franklin, as a man of science, may almost be called thefather of electrical science. He was the discoverer of the electricalcharacter of lightning, a discovery which he followed up by theinvention of iron conductors for the protection of buildings, &c., fromlightning. He was also a very zealous politician, and one of the leadersof the American colonists in their resistance to the taxation imposedfirst by Mr. Grenville and afterwards by Mr. C. Townshend. He residedfor several years in England as agent for the State of Pennsylvania, andin that character, in the year 1765, was examined before the Committeeof the House of Commons on the Stamp Act of Mr. Grenville. After thecivil war broke out he was elected a member of the American Congress,and was sent as an envoy to France to negotiate a treaty with thatcountry. As early as 1758 he was elected a member of the Royal Societyin England, and received the honorary degree of D.C.L. from theUniversity of Oxford.]

[Footnote 2: Necker was originally a banker, in which business he made alarge fortune; but after a time he turned his attention to politics. Hebegan by opposing the financial and constitutional schemes of the greatTurgot, and shortly after the dismissal of that Minister he himself wasadmitted into the Ministry as a sort of Secretary to the Treasury, hisreligion, as a Protestant, being a bar to his receiving the title of"Comptroller-General," though, in fact, he had the entire management ofthe finance of the kingdom, which, by artful misrepresentation of hismeasures and suppression of such important facts, that he had contractedloans to the amount of twenty millions of money, he represented as farmore flourishing than in reality it was. At the end of two or threeyears he resigned his office in discontent at his services not receivingthe rewards to which he considered himself entitled. But in 1788 he wasagain placed in office, on this occasion as Comptroller-General, and,practically, Prime Minister, a post for which he was utterly unfit; forhe had not one qualification for a statesman, was a prey to the mostoverweening vanity, and his sole principles of action were a thirst forpopularity and a belief in "the dominion of reason and the abstractvirtues of mankind." Under the influence of these notions he fritteredaway the authority and dignity of the King; and, as Napoleon afterwardstruly told his grandson, was, in truth, the chief cause of all thehorrors of the Revolution.]

I do not know yet what is settled about the spot of Lord Chatham'sinterment. I am not more an enthusiast to his memory than you. I knewhis faults and his defects--yet one fact cannot only not becontroverted, but I doubt more remarkable every day--I mean, that underhim we attained not only our highest elevation, but the most solidauthority in Europe. When the names of Marlborough and Chatham are stillpronounced with awe in France, our little cavils make a puny sound.Nations that are beaten cannot be mistaken.

I have been looking out for your friend a set of my heads of Painters,and I find I want six or seven. I think I have some odd ones in town; ifI have not, I will have deficiencies supplied from the plates, though Ifear they will not be good, as so many have been taken off. I should bevery ungrateful for all your kindnesses, if I neglected any opportunityof obliging you, dear Sir. Indeed, our old and unalterable friendship iscreditable to us both, and very uncommon between two persons who differso much in their opinions relative to Church and State. I believe thereason is, that we are both sincere, and never meant to take advantageof our principles; which I allow is too common on both sides, and I own,too, fairly more common on my side of the question than on yours. Thereis a reason, too, for that; the honours and emoluments are in the giftof the Crown; the nation has no separate treasury to reward its friends.

If Mr. Tyrwhitt has opened his eyes to Chatterton's forgeries,[1] thereis an instance of conviction against strong prejudice! I have drawn upan account of my transaction with that marvellous young man; you shallsee it one day or other, but I do not intend to print it. I have taken athorough dislike to being an author; and if it would not look likebegging you to compliment me, by contradicting me, I would tell you,what I am most seriously convinced of, that I find what small share ofparts I had, grown dulled--and when I perceive it myself, I may wellbelieve that others would not be less sharp-sighted. It is very natural;mine were spirits rather than parts; and as time has abated the one, itmust surely destroy their resemblance to the other: pray don't say asyllable in reply on this head, or I shall have done exactly what I saidI would not do. Besides, as you have always been too partial to me, I amon my guard, and when I will not expose myself to my enemies, I must notlisten to the prejudices of my friends; and as nobody is more partialto me than you, there is nobody I must trust less in that respect. Yoursmost sincerely.

[Footnote 1: Mr. Tyrrhwitt, a critic of great eminence, especially asthe editor of "Chaucer," had at first believed the poems published byChatterton to be the genuine works of Rowley, but was afterwardsconvinced, as Dr. Johnson also was, by the inspection of the manuscriptswhich the poor youth called the "originals," that they were quiterecent.]

You tell me in yours of the 23rd of last month, which I received to-day,that my letters are necessary to your tranquillity. That is sufficientto make me write, though I have nothing very positive to tell you. I didnot mention Admiral Keppel's skirmish with and capture of two frigatesof the Brest squadron; not because I thought it trifling, but concludingthat it would produce immediate declaration of war; and, for the factitself, I knew both our papers and the French would anticipate me.Indeed, Sir John Dick has talked to me so much of his frequency andpunctuality with you, that I might have concluded he would not neglectso public an event; not that I trust to anybody else for sending youintelligence.

No Declaration has followed on either side. I, who know nothing but whateverybody knows, am disposed to hope that both nations are grownrational; that is, humane enough to dislike carnage. Both kings arepacific by nature, and the voice of Europe now prefers legislators to_heroes_, which is but a name for destroyers of their species.

It is true, we are threatened with invasion.[1] You ask me why I seem toapprehend less than formerly? For many reasons. In the first place, I amabove thirty years older. Can one fear anything in the dregs of life asat the beginning? Experience, too, has taught me that nothing happens inproportion to our conceptions. I have learnt, too, exceedingly toundervalue human policy. Chance and folly counteract most of its wisdom.From the "Memoires de Noailles"[2] I have learnt, that, between theyears 1740 and 1750, when I,--ay, and my Lord Chesterfield too,--hadsuch gloomy thoughts, France was trembling with dread of us. These aregeneral reasons. My particular ones are, that, if France meditated aconsiderable blow, she has neglected her opportunity. Last year, we hadneither army nor a manned fleet at home. Now, we have a larger andbetter army than ever we had in the island, and a strong fleet. Withinthese three days, our West India and Mediterranean fleets, for which wehave been in great pain, are arrived, and bring not only above twomillions, but such a host of sailors as will supply the deficiencies inour unequipped men-of-war. The country is covered with camps; GeneralConway, who has been to one of them, speaks with astonishment of thefineness of the men, of the regiments, of their discipline andmanoeuvring. In short, the French Court has taught all our youngnobility to be soldiers. The Duke of Grafton, who was the most indolentof ministers, is the most indefatigable of officers. For my part, I amalmost afraid that there will be a larger military spirit amongst ourmen of quality than is wholesome for our constitution: France will havedone us hurt enough, if she has turned us into generals instead ofsenators.

[Footnote 1: The design of invading England, first conceived by PhilipII. of Spain and the Duke of Parma, had been entertained also by LouisXIV.; and after Walpole's death ostentatious preparations for such anexpedition were made in 1805 by Napoleon. But some years afterwardsNapoleon told Metternich, the Austrian Prime Minister, that he had neverreally designed to undertake the enterprise, being convinced of theimpossibility of succeeding in it, and that the sole object of hispreparations and of the camp at Boulogne had been to throw Austria offher guard.]

[Footnote 2: The Duc de Noailles had been the French Commander-in-chiefat the battle of Dettingen in 1743.]

I can conceive another reason why France should not choose to venture aninvasion. It is certain that at least five American provinces wish forpeace with us. Nor can I think that thirteen English provinces would bepleased at seeing England invaded. Any considerable blow received by us,would turn their new allies into haughty protectors. Should we accept abad peace, America would find her treaty with them a very bad one: inshort, I have treated you with speculations instead of facts. I know butone of the latter sort. The King's army has evacuated Philadelphia, fromhaving eaten up the country, and has returned to New York. Thus it ismore compact, and has less to defend.

General Howe is returned, richer in money than laurels. I do not know,indeed, that his wealth is great.

Fanaticism in a nation is no novelty; but you must know, that, thoughthe effects were so solid, the late appearance of enthusiasm about LordChatham was nothing but a general affectation of enthusiasm. It was acontention of hypocrisy between the Opposition and the Court, which didnot last even to his burial. Not three of the Court attended it, and nota dozen of the Minority of any note. He himself said, between his fallin the House of Lords and his death, that, when he came to himself, notone of his old acquaintance of the Court but Lord Despencer so much asasked how he did. Do you imagine people are struck with the death of aman, who were not struck with the sudden appearance of his death? We donot counterfeit so easily on a surprise, as coolly; and, when we arecool on surprise, we do not grow agitated on reflection.

The last account I heard from Germany was hostile. Four days ago boththe Imperial and Prussian Ministers[1] expected news of a battle. O, yefathers of your people, do you thus dispose of your children? How manythousand lives does a King save, who signs a peace! It was said in jestof our Charles II., that he was the real _father_ of his people, so manyof them did he beget himself. But tell me, ye divines, which is the mostvirtuous man, he who begets twenty bastards, or he who sacrifices ahundred thousand lives? What a contradiction is human nature! The Romansrewarded the man who got three children, and laid waste the world. Whenwill the world know that peace and propagation are the two mostdelightful things in it? As his Majesty of France has found out thelatter, I hope he will not forget the former.

[Footnote 1: Towards the close of 1777 Maximilian, the Elector ofBavaria, died, and the Emperor Joseph claimed many of his fiefs ashaving escheated to him. Frederic the Great, who was still jealous ofAustria, endeavoured to form a league to aid the new Elector in hisresistance to Joseph's demands, and even invaded Bohemia with an army ofeighty thousand men; but the Austrian army was equally strong. No actionof any importance took place; and in the spring of 1779 the treaty ofTeschen was concluded between the Empire, Prussia, and Bavaria, by whicha small portion of the district claimed by Joseph was ceded to Austria.]

_SUGGESTION OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRANCE--PARTITION OF POLAND._

TO THE HON. H.S. CONWAY.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _July_ 8, 1778.

I have had some conversation with a ministerial person, on the subjectof pacification with France; and he dropped a hint, that as we shouldnot have much of a good peace, the Opposition would make great clamouron it. I said a few words on the duty of Ministers to do what theythought right, be the consequence what it would. But as honest men donot want such lectures, and dishonest will not let them weigh, I waivedthat theme, to dwell on what is more likely to be persuasive, and whichI am firmly persuaded is no less true than the former maxim; and thatwas, that the Ministers are _still_ so strong, that if they could get apeace that would save the nation, though not a brilliant or gloriousone, the nation in general would be pleased with it, and the clamours ofthe Opposition be insignificant.

I added, what I think true, too, that no time is to be lost in treating;not only for preventing a blow, but from the consequences the firstmisfortune would have. The nation is not yet alienated from the Court,but it is growing so; is grown so enough, for any calamity to haveviolent effects. Any internal disturbance would advance the hostiledesigns of France. An insurrection from distress would be a doubleinvitation to invasion; and, I am sure, much more to be dreaded, evenpersonally, by the Ministers, than the ill-humours of Opposition foreven an inglorious peace. To do the Opposition justice, it is notcomposed of incendiaries. Parliamentary speeches raise no tumults: buttumults would be a dreadful thorough bass to speeches. The Ministers donot know the strength they have left (supposing they apply it in time),if they are afraid of making any peace. They were too sanguine in makingwar; I hope they will not be too timid of making peace.

What do you think of an idea of mine of offering France a neutrality?that is, to allow her to assist both us and the Americans. I know shewould assist only them: but were it not better to connive at herassisting them, without attacking us, than her doing both? A treaty withher would perhaps be followed by one with America. We are sacrificingall the essentials we _can_ recover, for a few words; and risking theindependence of this country, for the nominal supremacy over America.France seems to leave us time for treating. She mad no scruple ofbegging peace of us in '63, that she might lie by and recover heradvantages. Was not that a wise precedent? Does not she _now_ show thatit was? Is not policy the honour of nations? I mean, not morally, buthas Europe left itself any other honour? And since it has really leftitself no honour, and as little morality, does not the morality of anation consist in its preserving itself in as much happiness as it can?The invasion of Portugal by Spain in the last war, and the partition ofPoland,[1] have abrogated the law of nations. Kings have left no tiesbetween one another. Their duty to their people is still allowed. He isa good King that preserves his people; and if temporising answers thatend, is it not justifiable? You, who are as moral as wise, answer myquestions. Grotius[2] is obsolete. Dr. Joseph and Dr. Frederic, withfour hundred thousand commentators, are reading new lectures--and Ishould say, thank God, to one another, if the four hundred thousandcommentators were not in worse danger than they. Louis XVI. is grown acasuist compared to those partitioners. Well, let us simple individualskeep our honesty, and bless our stars that we have not armies at ourcommand, lest we should divide kingdoms that are at our _bienseance_!What a dreadful thing it is for such a wicked little imp as man to haveabsolute power! But I have travelled into Germany, when I meant to talkto you only of England; and it is too late to recall my text. Goodnight!

[Footnote 1: A partition of Poland had been proposed by the GreatElector of Brandenburgh as early as the middle of the seventeenthcentury, his idea being that he, the Emperor, and the King of Swedenshould divide the whole country between them. At that time, however, themutual jealousies of the three princes prevented the scheme from beingcarried out. But in 1770 the idea was revived by Frederic the Great, whosent his brother Henry to discuss it with the Czarina. She eagerlyembraced it; and the new Emperor Joseph had so blind an admiration forFrederic, that it was not hard to induce him to become a confederate inthe scheme of plunder. And the three allies had less difficulty thanmight have been expected in arranging the details. In extent ofterritory Austria was the principal gainer, her share being ofsufficient importance to receive a new name as the kingdom of Galicia;the share of Prussia being West Prussia and Pomerania, with theexception of Dantzic and the fortress of Thorn; while Russia took PolishLivonia and the rich provinces to the east of the Dwina. But thespoilers were not long contented with their acquisitions. In 1791intrigues among the Polish nobles, probably fomented by the Czarinaherself, gave her a pretence for interfering in their affairs; and theresult was a second partition, which gave the long-coveted port ofDantzic and a long district on the shore of the Baltic to Prussia, andsuch extensive provinces adjoining Russia to Catharine, that all thatwas left to the Polish sovereign was a small territory with a populationthat hardly amounted to four millions of subjects. The partition excitedgreat indignation all over Europe, but in 1772 England was sufficientlyoccupied with the troubles beginning to arise in America, and France wasstill too completely under the profligate and imbecile rule of Louis XV.and Mme. du Barri, and too much weakened by her disasters in the SevenYears' War, for any manly counsels or indication of justice and humanityto be expected from that country.]

[Footnote 2: Grotius (a Latinised form of Groot) was an eminentstatesman and jurist of Holland at the beginning of the seventeenthcentury. He was a voluminous author; his most celebrated works being atreatise, "De jure belli et pacis," and another on the "Truth of theChristian Religion."]

[Illustration: VIEW OF GARDEN, STRAWBERRY HILL, FROM THE GREATBED-CHAMBER.]

_UNSUCCESSFUL CRUISE OF KEPPEL--CHARACTER OF LORD CHATHAM._

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

STRAWBERRY HILL, _Oct._ 8, 1778.

As you are so earnest for news, I am concerned when I have not aparagraph to send you. It looks as if distance augmented yourapprehensions; for, I assure you, at home we have lost almost allcuriosity. Though the two fleets have been so long at sea, and though,before their last _sortie_, one heard nothing but _What news of thefleets?_ of late there has been scarcely any inquiry; and so the Frenchone is returned to Brest, and ours is coming home. Admiral Keppel isvery unlucky in having missed them, for they had not above twenty-fiveships. Letters from Paris say that their camps, too, are to break up atthe end of this month: but we do not intend to be the dupes of that_finesse_, if it is one, but shall remain on our guard. One must hopethat winter will produce some negotiation; and that, peace. Indeed, aswar is not declared, I conclude there is always some treating on theanvil; and, should it end well, at least this age will have made a steptowards humanity, in omitting the ceremonial of proclamation, whichseems to make it easier to cease being at war. But I am rather makingout a proxy for a letter than sending you news. But, you see, evenarmies of hundred thousands in Germany can execute as little as we; andyou must remember what the Grand Conde, or the great Prince of Orange--Iforget which--said, that unmarried girls imagine husbands are always onduty, unmilitary men that soldiers are always fighting. One of the Dukeof Marlborough's Generals dining with the Lord Mayor, an Alderman who